Machine learning between radio loading and user experience

ABSTRACT

A resource upgrade predictor can be operable to receive, from a first network node device, traffic information. Based on the traffic information, the resource upgrade predictor can obtain network utilization data related to other network node devices having a similar interference characteristic (e.g., signal-to-noise ratio) to the first network node device. The resource upgrade predictor can use this network utilization data to determine a demand (e.g., demand level, demand point) at which at least a defined value related to a transmission link capacity associated with transmissions between the first network node device and the user equipment, is attained (e.g., a percentage of physical resource block loading). The resource upgrade predictor can also obtain projected demand data associated with a geographic area serviced by the first network node device, and determine, based upon the demand and the projected demand data, a time at which a network resource upgrade related to the first network node device, is to be performed.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The subject patent application is a continuation of, and claims priorityto each of, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/939,804, filed Jul. 27,2020, and entitled “MACHINE LEARNING BETWEEN RADIO LOADING AND USEREXPERIENCE,” which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/210,518 (now U.S. Pat. No. 10,764,786), filed Dec. 5, 2018, andentitled “MACHINE LEARNING BETWEEN RADIO LOADING AND USER EXPERIENCE,”the entireties of which applications are hereby incorporated byreference herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application relates generally to cellular networktechnology, and more specifically, to machine learning used to predictresource upgrade times based on radio loading and user experience (e.g.,demand).

BACKGROUND

Radio technologies in cellular communications have grown rapidly andevolved since the launch of analog cellular systems in the 1980s,starting from the First Generation (1G) in 1980s, Second Generation (2G)in 1990s, Third Generation (3G) in 2000s, and Fourth Generation (4G) in2010s (including Long Term Evolution (LTE) and variants of LTE). Theamount of traffic in cellular networks has experienced a tremendousamount of growth and expansion, and there are no indications that suchgrowth will decelerate. It is expected that this growth will include useof the network not only by humans, but also by an increasing number ofmachines that communicate with each other, for example, surveillancecameras, smart electrical grids, sensors, home appliances and othertechnologies in connected homes, and intelligent transportation systems(e.g., the Internet of Things (IOT)). Additional technological growthincludes 4K video, augmented reality, cloud computing, industrialautomation, and vehicle to vehicle (V2V).

Consequently, advancement in future networks is driven by the demand toprovide and account for massive connectivity and volume, expandedthroughput and capacity, and ultra-low latency.

Fifth generation (5G) mobile access networks, which can also be referredto as New Radio (NR) access networks, are currently being developed andexpected to handle a very wide range of use cases and requirements,including among others enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) and machine typecommunications (e.g., involving IOT devices). 5G wireless communicationnetworks are expected to fulfill the demand of exponentially increasingdata traffic and to allow people and machines to enjoy gigabit datarates with very low latency. Compared to existing fourth generation (4G)technologies, such as long-term evolution (LTE) networks and advancedLTE networks, 5G provides better speeds and coverage, targeting muchhigher throughput with low latency and utilizing higher carrierfrequencies (e.g., higher than 6 gigahertz (GHz)) and wider bandwidths.A 5G network also increases network expandability up to hundreds ofthousands of connections.

The above-described background relating to cellular networks and fixedpacket networks is merely intended to provide a contextual overview ofsome current issues, and is not intended to be exhaustive. Othercontextual information may become further apparent upon review of thefollowing detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the subject disclosureare described with reference to the following figures, wherein likereference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various viewsunless otherwise specified.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example wireless communication system in which anetwork node device (e.g., network node) communicates with userequipment (UEs), or user devices, in accordance with various aspects andembodiments of the subject disclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example graph depicting an example resourceupgrade threshold related to the average physical resource block (PRB)loading percentage.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example graph of a relationship between PRBloading and retransmissions of data packets.

FIG. 4 illustrates a graph comprising two curves, each with differenceinterference characteristics.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example system comprising a resource upgradepredictor, in accordance with various aspects and embodiments of thesubject disclosure.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example operation that can be performed by aresource upgrade predictor, in accordance with various aspects andembodiments of the subject disclosure.

FIG. 7 illustrates another example operation that can be performed by aresource upgrade predictor, in accordance with various aspects andembodiments of the subject disclosure.

FIG. 8 illustrates another example operation that can be performed by aresource upgrade predictor, in accordance with various aspects andembodiments of the subject disclosure.

FIG. 9 illustrates a block diagram of an example mobile handset (whichcan be a UE), in accordance with various aspects and embodiments of thesubject disclosure.

FIG. 10 illustrates a block diagram of an example computing device(e.g., computer), the components of which can comprise a resourceupgrade predictor, that can be operable to execute processes andmethods, in accordance with various aspects and embodiments of thesubject disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description and the annexed drawings set forth in detailcertain illustrative aspects of the subject matter. However, theseaspects are indicative of but a few of the various ways in which theprinciples of the subject matter can be employed. Other aspects,advantages, and novel features of the disclosed subject matter willbecome apparent from the following detailed description when consideredin conjunction with the provided drawings. In the following description,for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth inorder to provide an understanding of the subject disclosure. It may beevident, however, that the subject disclosure may be practiced withoutthese specific details. In other instances, well-known structures anddevices are shown in block diagram form to facilitate describing thesubject disclosure. For example, the methods (e.g., processes and logicflows) described in this specification can be performed by devices(e.g., computers, resource upgrade predictor, user equipment (UE),network node device, etc.) comprising programmable processors thatexecute machine executable instructions to facilitate performance of theoperations described herein. Examples of such devices can be devicescomprising circuitry and components as described in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10.

The present patent application relates to a resource upgrade predictorthat is operable to receive, from a first network node device, trafficinformation. Based on the traffic information, the resource upgradepredictor can obtain network utilization data related to other networknode devices having a similar interference characteristic (e.g.,signal-to-noise ration) to the first network node device. The resourceupgrade predictor can use this network utilization data to determine ademand, or level of demand, at which at least a defined value related toa transmission link capacity associated with transmissions between thefirst network node and the user equipment, is attained (e.g., apercentage of physical resource block loading). The resource upgradepredictor can obtain projected demand data associated with thegeographic area serviced by the first network node, and determine, basedupon the demand and the projected demand data, a time at which a networkresource upgrade related to the first network node device, is to beperformed.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example mobile communication system 100 (alsoreferred to as mobile system 100) in accordance with various aspects andembodiments of the subject disclosure. In example embodiments (alsoreferred to as non-limiting embodiments), mobile system 100 can comprisea mobile network 106, which can comprise one or more mobile networkstypically operated by communication service provider entities. Themobile system 100 can also comprise one or more user equipment (UE) 102(also referred to as UE 102 in the singular, and UE 102 _(1-N) or UEs102 in the plural); also referred to as user devices. The UEs 102 cancommunicate with one another via one or more network nodes 104 (alsoreferred to network node 104 in the singular, and network nodes 104_(1-N) or network nodes 104 in the plural), also referred to as networknode devices.

UEs 102 can comprise, for example, any type of device that cancommunicate with mobile network 106, as well as other networks (seebelow). A UE 102 can have one or more antenna panels having vertical andhorizontal elements. Examples of a UE 102 comprise a target device,device to device (D2D) UE, machine type UE, or UE capable of machine tomachine (M2M) communications, personal digital assistant (PDA), tablet,mobile terminal, smart phone, laptop mounted equipment (LME), universalserial bus (USB) dongles enabled for mobile communications, a computerhaving mobile capabilities, a mobile device such as cellular phone, adual mode mobile handset, a laptop having laptop embedded equipment(LEE, such as a mobile broadband adapter), a tablet computer having amobile broadband adapter, a wearable device, a virtual reality (VR)device, a heads-up display (HUD) device, a smart car, a machine-typecommunication (MTC) device, and the like. UE 102 can also comprise IOTdevices that communicate wirelessly.

Mobile network 106 can include various types of networks, including butnot limited to, cellular networks, femtocell networks, picocellnetworks, microcell networks, internet protocol (IP) networks, Wi-Finetworks associated with the mobile network (e.g., a Wi-Fi “hotspot”implemented by a mobile handset), and the like. For example, in at leastone implementation, mobile system 100 can be or can include a largescale wireless communication network that spans various geographicareas, and comprise various additional devices and components (e.g.,additional network devices, additional UEs, network server devices,etc.).

Still referring to FIG. 1, mobile network 106 can employ variouscellular systems, technologies, and modulation schemes to facilitatewireless radio communications between devices (e.g., between the UE 102and the network node 104). While example embodiments might be describedfor 5G new radio (NR) systems, the embodiments can be applicable to anyradio access technology (RAT) or multi-RAT system where the UE operatesusing multiple carriers. For example, mobile system 100 can be of anyvariety, and operate in accordance with standards, protocols (alsoreferred to as schemes), and network architectures, including but notlimited to: global system for mobile communications (GSM), 3GSM, GSMEnhanced Data Rates for Global Evolution (GSM EDGE) radio access network(GERAN), Universal Mobile Telecommunications Service (UMTS), GeneralPacket Radio Service (GPRS), Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO), DigitalEnhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT), Digital AMPS (IS-136/TDMA),Integrated Digital Enhanced Network (iDEN), Long Term Evolution (LTE),LTE Frequency Division Duplexing (LTE FDD), LTE time division duplexing(LTE TDD), Time Division LTE (TD-LTE), LTE Advanced (LTE-A), TimeDivision LTE Advanced (TD-LTE-A), Advanced eXtended Global Platform(AXGP), High Speed Packet Access (HSPA), Code Division Multiple Access(CDMA), Wideband CDMA (WCMDA), CDMA2000, Time Division Multiple Access(TDMA), Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA), Multi-carrier CodeDivision Multiple Access (MC-CDMA), Single-carrier Code DivisionMultiple Access (SC-CDMA), Single-carrier FDMA (SC-FDMA), OrthogonalFrequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM), Discrete Fourier TransformSpread OFDM (DFT-spread OFDM), Single Carrier FDMA (SC-FDMA), FilterBank Based Multi-carrier (FBMC), zero tail DFT-spread-OFDM (ZTDFT-s-OFDM), Unique Word OFDM (UW-OFDM), Unique Word DFT-spread OFDM (UWDFT-Spread-OFDM), Cyclic Prefix OFDM (CP-OFDM), resource-block-filteredOFDM, Generalized Frequency Division Multiplexing (GFDM), Fixed-mobileConvergence (FMC), Universal Fixed-mobile Convergence (UFMC), MultiRadio Bearers (RAB), Wi-Fi, and the like.

Still referring to FIG. 1, in example embodiments, UE 102 can becommunicatively coupled (or in other words, connected) to one or morenetwork nodes 104 of the mobile network 106. A network node 104 can havea cabinet and other protected enclosure, an antenna mast, and multipleantennas for performing various transmission operations (e.g., MIMOoperations). Each network node 104 can serve several cells, also calledsectors, depending on the configuration and type of antenna. Networknode 104 can comprise NodeB devices, base station (BS) devices, mobilestations, access point (AP) devices, and radio access network (RAN)devices. Network node 104 can also include multi-standard radio (MSR)radio node devices, including but not limited to: an MSR BS, an eNode Bdevice (e.g., evolved NodeB), a network controller, a radio networkcontroller (RNC), a base station controller (BSC), a relay, a donor nodecontrolling relay, a base transceiver station (BTS), an access point, atransmission point (TP), a transmission/receive point (TRP), atransmission node, a remote radio unit (RRU), a remote radio head (RRH),nodes in distributed antenna system (DAS), and the like. In 5Gterminology, the network node is referred to by some as a gNodeB device.

Still referring to FIG. 1, in various embodiments, mobile network 106can be configured to provide and employ 5G cellular networking featuresand functionalities. 5G wireless communication networks are expected tofulfill the demand of exponentially increasing data traffic and to allowpeople and machines to enjoy gigabit data rates with very low latency.Compared to 4G, 5G supports more diverse traffic scenarios. For example,in addition to the various types of data communication betweenconventional UEs (e.g., phones, smartphones, tablets, PCs, televisions,Internet enabled televisions, etc.) supported by 4G networks, 5Gnetworks can be employed to support data communication between smartcars in association with driverless car environments, as well as machinetype communications (MTCs). Considering the drastically differentcommunication needs of these different traffic scenarios, the ability todynamically configure waveform parameters based on traffic scenarioswhile retaining the benefits of multi carrier modulation schemes (e.g.,OFDM and related schemes) can provide a significant contribution to thehigh speed/capacity and low latency demands of 5G networks. Withwaveforms that split the bandwidth into several sub-bands, differenttypes of services can be accommodated in different sub-bands with themost suitable waveform and numerology, leading to an improved spectrumutilization for 5G networks.

Still referring to FIG. 1, to meet the demand for data centricapplications, features of proposed 5G networks may comprise: increasedpeak bit rate (e.g., 20 Gbps), larger data volume per unit area (e.g.,high system spectral efficiency—for example about 3.5 times that ofspectral efficiency of long term evolution (LTE) systems), high capacitythat allows more device connectivity both concurrently andinstantaneously, lower battery/power consumption (which reduces energyand consumption costs), better connectivity regardless of the geographicregion in which a user is located, a larger numbers of devices, lowerinfrastructural development costs, and higher reliability of thecommunications. Thus, 5G networks may allow for: data rates of severaltens of megabits per second for tens of thousands of users, 1 Gbps to beoffered simultaneously to tens of workers on the same office floor, forexample; several hundreds of thousands of simultaneous connections to besupported for massive sensor deployments; improved coverage, enhancedsignaling efficiency; reduced latency compared to LTE.

The upcoming 5G access network may utilize higher frequencies (e.g., >6GHz) to aid in increasing capacity. Currently, much of the millimeterwave (mmWave) spectrum, the band of spectrum between 30 gigahertz (GHz)and 300 GHz, is underutilized. The millimeter waves have shorterwavelengths that range from 10 millimeters to 1 millimeter, and thesemmWave signals experience severe path loss, penetration loss, andfading. However, the shorter wavelength at mmWave frequencies alsoallows more antennas to be packed in the same physical dimension, whichallows for large-scale spatial multiplexing and highly directionalbeamforming.

To meet the large demand due to the growth of the number of devices anddue to growth of usage of the spectrum by user applications on suchdevices, communications service provider entities strive to upgradetheir infrastructure by adding more resource to service the demand andsupport the end user experience when the user experience is projected inthe future to degrade below some parametric threshold. This mightentail, for example, adding an additional network node, additional radioelements to a network node, a base station, a remote radio unit, etc.However, the pre-mature addition of more equipment, when it is notwarranted can be costly. The question about capacity growth for anyradio (e.g., radio additions to network node) is “when should we growthis particular radio and add another radio?”

FIG. 2 illustrates a graph depicting an example of the use of onemeasure to determine when to add resources to an existing cellularnetwork to accommodate increased demand In the example of FIG. 2,bandwidth utilization, such as the percentage of radio physical resourceblock (PRB) loading, is used to predict exhaustion of radio linksbetween a network node (e.g., network node 104) and a UE (e.g., UE 102).As shown in the graph of FIG. 2, AT&T, for example, uses data relatingto the ten busiest hours of the last thirty days. Examining this data,when the average physical resource block loading over those hoursexceeds 80% of maximum possible load, the hosting node (e.g., basestation sector) is flagged for radio growth (e.g., resource upgrades).Again, these radio additions to existing nodes can be very expensive.

The applicants' research has shown that PRB loading is only looselyassociated with channel capacity which is required to supportcommunications and end-user experience. For example, a PRB can supportthe transmission of different amounts of data depending on themodulation codec used in the radio communication. The modulation codecchosen is dependent on the signal to noise ratio (SNR) of the channelbetween a node and a UE. Signal to noise ratio is primarily driven bydistance of a UE from a base station. In summary, UEs that are far fromnetwork nodes tend to have low SNR, leading to lower throughput codecsand less efficient PRB utilization. The use of a threshold that is 80%PRB loading (e.g., as shown in FIG. 2) may be a good indicator, but itmay also be substantially in error based on the conditions forindividual node radios. A blanket PRB threshold can lead to triggers forradio growth too soon in some cases, and too late in other cases. Whentriggered too soon, telecommunications service providers would bespending money on infrastructure before the need arises. When the callfor radio growth is triggered too late, the customer experience cansuffer.

As an example of how throughput can differ in different scenarios, threecases can be considered. In the first case, a base station is beside thefreeway in a rural area. When UEs get close to the base station, thereis very little interference from other base stations. In the secondcase, a base station is next to a road in a dense, urban area. When UEsget close to the base station, there is a lot of interference from otherbase stations. In the third case, a base station resides on amountaintop, where UEs do not get close and there is little interferencefrom other base stations. For a given level of PRB loading, these threeconditions would yield quite different data throughput volumes andcorresponding user experiences. The present application provides for amethod for triggering (or informing of a schedule for) radio growth thatincorporates information from both the radio control plane and Layer 3IP-based information that is closer to the user experience (e.g., basedupon the demand of the user, and the conditions of the radio link).

An example resource upgrade predictor in accordance with the presentapplication considers, among other factors, re-transmissions of data,and the impact those re-transmissions can have on PRB loading. Asmentioned above, the capacity of a radio can be reasonably tested by theuser experience (e.g., number, or quantity, of packets transmitted by aUE, which can reflect demand by the UE). A factor of data packetcommunications quality is packet retransmission. Once data packetcollisions occur, the retransmission of these packets increase the totalnumber of packets to be transmitted in a non-linear manner, which inturn, impacts the bandwidth utilization (e.g., PRB loading), alsonon-linearly. An example graph illustrating this relationship is shownin FIG. 3.

There is another dependency on the type of data being transmitted.Streaming data content may suffer from audio or video glitches, butnon-streaming data requires successful packet transfers. Therefore, evenmeasures on Layer 3, such as latency or packet retransmission, areinconclusive about user experience. The present application's machinelearning methods and systems not only accounts for re-transmissions, butalso applies machine learning to account for the highly non-linearfunction between PRB loading and user experience (e.g., demand by UEs).In other words, the system and methods account for a relationshipbetween the packet data demand and PRB utilization. As an example, agraph shown in FIG. 4 illustrates two curves, wherein each curve relatesto a different node (e.g., network node 104 ₁, network node 104 ₂)operating in two sites under difference conditions (e.g., distance,interference, etc.), resulting in different SNR profiles associated withcommunications between the network node and its respective user devices.Each curve represents the growth rate of PRB utilization (or, putanother way, impact on PRB utilization) for the network node, based uponboth user experience (e.g., demand) under the aforementioned conditions.For both curves, PRB loading grows at a certain rate for certain amountsof data communicated.

In one example network node site, represented by a first curve 410 inFIG. 4, for example, the UEs are closer to the network node, and thereis more throughput due to a relatively better SNR. For this curve, evengiven the same demand (e.g., similar number of users, similar demand fordata usage), the point (growth inflection point) at which the curvereaches a PRB loading threshold of, for example, 80%, and tails upward,is further to the right of a second curve 420 in which the growthinflection point occurs much earlier, and tails upward at a faster rate,even with a similar number of users, and a similar amount of user demandThis site can deliver data with less PRB loading, and has a relativelylower slope value (e.g., not as steep as second curve 420).

In the example shown in FIG. 4, the second curve 420 represents anetwork node site where the SNR is worse (e.g., due to further distancefrom the node, more interference from other network nodes, etc.) thanthe network node site related to first curve 410. Additionally, tor thesite related to second curve 420 in which the SNR is worse, the codecused by the network node to code and decode transmissions to and fromthe network node, degrades faster. Before PRBs have been used, packetloss due to SNR begins to occur (e.g., interference causes collisions ofpackets of data, resulting in loss), and this in turn causes and resultsin re-transmissions of data. As such, retransmissions occur because of adepletion of SNR, not because there is a lack of PRBs. Regarding thissecond curve 420, reflective of a higher SNR on the radio link, theslope of the curve left of the point at which the curve ascends morerapidly (e.g., dogleg, growth inflection point) has a steeper slope inlarge part due to the network node's use of a lower codec rate. When theSNR is worse, the node will drop to the lower codec rate—instead of a128 Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) scheme, for example, it dropsto using quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK). For a given amount ofdemand, it takes more PRB due to the communications operating on a lowercodec rate. For fewer transmissions than for first curve 410, more PRBswould likely be required. The growth inflection point occurs due to thelarger number of retransmissions. If the network's bandwidth keepsbecoming loaded up, the PRBs might be depleted faster. If there are nomore PRBs available, but the SNR is still good, there would not be agrowth inflection point where there is a rapid rise in the steepness ofthe slope. Thus, the more non-linear part of the curves would beaccelerated due to re-transmissions.

Given the transmission conditions, the shape of the curve is furtherinfluenced by the user experience (e.g., demand for data), which furtherloads PRBs and shifts the curve rightward. However, an increase indemand in a network with better SNR would see a growth curve that is notas steep as that of a growth in demand in a network with poor SNR, asshown in FIG. 4.

The example resource upgrade predictor of the present applicationaccounts for these curves, which consider both SNR (as indicated byre-transmissions, switches to lower codecs, etc.) and demand in PRBloading, in determining when to add new infrastructure resource. Theresource upgrade predictor uses empirical data to find similar parts ofthe network—network nodes that have the same re-transmissioncharacteristics (e.g., SNR), and demand reaction, to determine therelevant curve associated with an examined network node. Themachine-machine learning aspects of the present systems and methodsrelate to the review of a multitude of network nodes, their demand andre-transmission behavioral patterns, and using these historicalutilizations to determine when to upgrade infrastructure. Referringagain to FIG. 4, communications between a network node and a UE havingthe characteristics as first curve 410 are characterized with differentslope characteristics from one of, for example, second curve 420. For aparticular network node, the resource upgrade predictor of the presentapplication is operable to determine, based on present and historicaldata, the type of radio link (e.g., high or low SNR, for example) thatthe network node relates to. As an example, based on the PRB loading,and the demand at the network node, it can be determined that a steeperslope is involved (e.g., second curve 420). As such, once, for example,75% of average PRB loading has been reached, it can be determined thatthe PRB loading for the node will increase nonlinearly at the inflectiongrowth point of second curve 420 if demand increases. On the other hand,if the behavior of the network node is such that the linear portion ofthe demand-PRB loading has a relatively flatter slope (e.g., first curve410), then even at 75% PRB loading, it can be determined that moredemand will be needed to drive the PRB loading to 90%, than the amountof demand needed to drive PRB loading to 90% if the radio link exhibitedthe characteristics of the second curve 420. Thus, by looking at similarnodes (with respect to SNR/retransmissions, and demand), the resourceupgrade predictor can predict at what demand 80% of PRB loading mightoccur, as well as how much more demand can increase before it reaches90% of PRB loading.

In addition to predicting at what demand a certain percentage of PRBloading occurs, the resource upgrade predictor can also use that demandto determine a time at which to upgrade the resource, based on thepredicted demand reaching a certain PRB loading percentage. As anexample, if it is determined that a demand can grow to a certain level,say X number of transmitted packets, on a particular radio link beforean upgrade is needed, the resource upgrade predictor can then determinehow long (e.g., how much time) it would take for that user experience(demand) to reach X. Data growth can be predicted, for example, byquantity of subscribers, and also by the usage of data by each of thosesubscribers. Marketing research, for example can determine the number ofusers in a certain geographic area, and account for growth of data usagein that area. As another example factor, the number of applications on aUE (e.g., mobile phone), the type of applications downloaded on the UE,and the usage of each application on the UE can all be indicators thatcan be used to predict when demand will reach a certain point.

Thus, PRB loading can be projected into the future, and by predictinggrowth in mobile devices and analyzing the amount of data predicted tobe used in the future per device, the resource upgrade predictor candetermine a time at which the demand reaches a point, or level, at whichthe PRB loading exceeds, or attains, a certain threshold.

Moving now to FIG. 5, an example resource upgrade predictor 505 cancomprise one or more computing devices (e.g., it can thus be a device,or a system), operable to perform example methods and operations inaccordance with example embodiments of the present application, asdescribed herein in. Additionally, machine-readable storage medium,comprising executable instructions that, when executed by one or moreprocessors of the resource upgrade predictor 505, can also facilitateperformance of methods and operations. The resource upgrade predictor505 can be located anywhere in a networked environment and can beintegrated with other devices within mobile network (e.g., mobilenetwork 106). As shown in FIG. 5, packets can be transmitted by UEs(e.g., UEs 102 ₁₋₃) through the network via network node devices (e.g.,network nodes 104 ₁₋₄). The packets can travel through the network,including through another service provider's network (e.g., representedby IP cloud 510). Packets from another service provider's network canalso be destined for the UEs.

In example embodiments in accordance with the present application, theresource upgrade predictor 505 can receive from a first network nodedevice (e.g., as shown in FIG. 5, network node 104 ₁), trafficinformation comprising a first number of transmitted data packetsbetween a user equipment (e.g., as shown in FIG. 5, UE 102 ₁) and thefirst network node device, wherein the first number of transmittedpackets is reflective of a demand associated with the user equipmentserviced by the first network node (e.g., UE 102 ₁). Generally, thetraffic information relating to transmissions between the UEs andnetwork nodes can be received via, for example, the control plane, whichcarries signaling information (e.g., Layer 2 information). The number oftransmitted packets can inform as to the demand from UEs serviced by thenetwork nodes.

The traffic information can also comprise a second number ofre-transmitted data packets comprising a re-transmission of at least oneof the transmitted data packets between the user equipment and the firstnetwork node device. This information regarding the number ofre-transmissions can be received via, for example, a Layer 3 (IP)protocol, and can include information from network nodes. Layer 3informs about absolute throughput and retransmissions. The number ofretransmissions can be used by the resource upgrade predictor 505 todetermine the SNR characteristics associated with the first network nodedevice.

Based on the traffic information, the resource upgrade predictor canobtain network utilization data related to a second network node (e.g.,the network utilization data related to network nodes 104 ₂, 104 ₃, or104 ₄ as shown in FIG. 5) having similar interference characteristics tothe first network node device.

Using the network utilization data (e.g., information that is used toconstruct first curve 410, or second curve 420), the resource upgradepredictor 505 can determine a demand at which at least a defined valuerelated to a transmission link capacity associated with transmissionsbetween the first network node and the user equipment, is attained.

Thus, based on the PRB growth curve (e.g., first curve 410, second curve420) associated with the similar network nodes, the resource upgradepredictor can determine, for the first network node device, a demand atwhich the level of user experience (e.g., how much traffic from UEs)would result in a PRB loading percentage threshold of, for example 80%.

The resource upgrade predictor 505 can then obtain projected demand datafrom, for example, a computing device operated by a marketing departmentpersonnel (e.g., marketing computing device 515) associated with thegeographic area serviced by the first network node. Marketing personneltypically conduct studies and generate data related to projected demandassociated with a particular geographic and the devices within thatarea.

The resource upgrade predictor 505 can determine, based upon the demandand the projected demand data, a time at which a network resourceupgrade related to the first network node, is to be performed. Putanother way, once the amount of demand that would lead to a thresholdpercentage of utilization has been determined, the resource upgradepredictor can then determine, based on marketing data (e.g., based onthe projected growth of devices serviced by the network node at issue,the number and type of applications downloaded and used by users in thelocation, etc.) a time at which the demand will rise to a level thatreaches the PRB loading percentage threshold. For example, the resourceupgrade predictor 505 can determine that in nine months, traffic at thisnetwork node will reach a demand point that will result in 80% loadingof the PRBs associated with transmissions between the network node andthe user devices.

Thus, because the resource upgrade predictor 505 has machine-learned thePRB loading behaviors of similar network nodes (e.g., with similar SNRcharacteristics) based on demand and re-transmissions, the resourceupgrade predictor 505 can predict for any node having similar SNRcharacteristics and demand levels, at what demand level and time thatnetwork node will reach a certain loading capacity, such as 80% PRBloading. Additionally, this process can also inform as to how much morequickly PRB loading can reach, for example, 90% PRB loading (e.g.,sooner if the network node has SNR characteristics reflective of networknodes associated with, for example, first curve 410). If a particularnetwork node adheres to, for example second curve 420, it will reach 90%PRB loading faster than a network node that is more similar to firstcurve 410.

Radio control subnets (e.g., radio control subnet 520 ₁ and radiocontrol subnet 520 ₂), packet gateways (e.g., packet gateway 525 ₁ andpacket gateway 525 ₂) and other network elements, can also serve asintermediary devices within the network that route or aggregate traffic,and Layer 3 and Layer 2 information, to be passed onto the resourceupgrade predictor 505.

In this manner, PRB loading projections are used, but the resourceupgrade predictor also makes projections based on the association of PRBloading with IP performance measures on Layer 3 with the PRB loadindependently for every radio (e.g., at a network node) in the network.Each radio encounters non-linear packet retransmission growth atdifferent levels of PRB loading. The level for each radio is treated asa threshold that is specific to that radio. By projecting future PRBloading, it can be better predicted when user experience will degradenon-linearly. This projection can inform as to when radio capacityupgrades would be more optimal. The resource upgrade predictor can befurther operable to transmit an alert, or electronic message, to one ormore computer terminals, for example (user terminal 530), so thatservice network personnel can be alerted of a desire to upgrade. Thealert can be a visual or audible indicator that can, for example, directthe attention of personnel to a report (which can show, for example, agraph, or a table) indicating the point in time at which various PRBloading percentages would be expected to occur.

In accordance with example embodiments, a device comprising a processorand memory, can be operable to perform example methods and operations,as illustrated in flow diagrams as described in FIGS. 6-8 in accordancewith various aspects and embodiments of the subject disclosure.Additionally, machine-readable storage medium, comprising executableinstructions that, when executed by a processor, can also facilitateperformance of the methods and operations described in FIGS. 6-8.

In non-limiting embodiments (also referred to as example embodiments),as shown in FIG. 6, a resource upgrade predictor, which can be a systemor a device, (e.g., resource upgrade predictor 505), can comprise aprocessor and a memory that stores executable instructions that, whenexecuted by the processor, facilitate performance of operations 600.

The operations 600 can comprise, at step 605, receiving, from a firstnetwork node device (e.g., network node 104), traffic informationcomprising a first number of transmitted data packets between a userequipment (e.g., UE 102) and the first network node device, wherein thefirst number of transmitted packets is reflective of a first demandassociated with the user equipment serviced by the first network nodedevice. The information regarding the transmitted data packets can bereceived via, for example, a protocol comprising a layer two internetprotocol.

The traffic information can also comprise a second number ofre-transmitted data packets comprising a re-transmission of at least oneof the transmitted data packets between the user equipment and the firstnetwork node device. The information regarding the re-transmitted datapackets can be received via, for example, a protocol comprising a layerthree internet protocol.

The transmitted data packets and the re-transmitted data packets aretransmitted via a wireless radio link between the first network nodedevice and the user equipment. The re-transmitted data packets can bere-transmitted due to, for example, interference via the wireless radiolink. Interference can cause packets transmitted via the wireless radiolink to be lost, which leads to the re-transmission of those packets.

The operations at step 610 can comprise, based on the trafficinformation, obtaining network utilization data (e.g., PRB loading dataas used to generate, for example, first curve 410 or second curve 420)related to a second network node device having a similar interferencecharacteristic (e.g., SNR) to the first network node device.

The operations can comprise, at step 615, based on the networkutilization data, determining demand data representative of a seconddemand at which at least a defined value, related to a transmission linkcapacity associated with transmissions between the first network nodedevice and the user equipment, is attained. The transmission linkcapacity can be reflective of a quantity of physical resource blockscomprising time intervals in which the transmitted data packets and there-transmitted data packets are to be transmitted via the wireless radiolink.

At step 620, the operations can further comprise obtaining projecteddemand data associated with a geographic area serviced by the firstnetwork node device. The projected demand data can be based on thenumber of software applications used by mobile devices associated withthe geographic area. The projected demand data can be based on a type ofthe software applications used by the mobile devices associated with thegeographic area.

At step 625, the operations can comprise determining, based upon thedemand data and the projected demand data, a time at which a networkresource upgrade, related to the first network node device, is to beperformed.

In non-limiting embodiments (also referred to as example embodiments),as shown in FIG. 7, a resource upgrade predictor, which can be a systemor a device, (e.g., resource upgrade predictor 505), can comprise aprocessor and a memory that stores executable instructions that, whenexecuted by the processor, facilitate performance of a method 700.

The example method 700 can comprise, at step 705, receiving trafficinformation from a first network node device (e.g., network node 104),the traffic information comprising a first quantity of transmitted datapackets between a user equipment (e.g., UE 102) and the network nodedevice, wherein the first quantity of transmitted packets is reflectiveof a demand associated with the user equipment serviced by the firstnetwork node device.

The traffic information can also comprise a second quantity ofre-transmitted data packets comprising a re-transmission of at least oneof the transmitted data packets between the user equipment and the firstnetwork node device. The transmitted data packets and the retransmitteddata packets are transmitted via a wireless radio link between the firstnetwork node device and the user equipment. The re-transmitted datapackets are re-transmitted due to, for example, interference via thewireless radio link.

The example method of 700, can at step 710, further comprise, based onthe traffic information, obtaining network utilization data (e.g., PRBloading data as used to generate, for example, first curve 410 or secondcurve 420) related to a second network node device having a similarinterference characteristic (e.g., SNR) to that of the first networknode device.

The example method 700 at 715 can further comprise, using the networkutilization data to determine a level of demand at which at least adefined value, related to a transmission link capacity associated withtransmissions between the first network node device and the userequipment, is attained. The transmission link capacity can be reflectiveof a number of physical resource blocks comprising time intervals inwhich the transmitted data packets and re-transmitted data packets aretransmitted via the wireless radio link.

The example method 700, at step 720, can comprise obtaining projecteddemand data from a second computing device, wherein the projected demanddata is associated with a geographic area serviced by the first networknode device.

The example method 700, at step 725, can comprise determining, basedupon the level of demand and the projected demand data, a time at whicha network resource upgrade, related to the first network node device, isto be performed. The network resource upgrade can comprise anaugmentation of the first network node device to satisfy a projecteddemand associated with the projected demand data. The network resourceupgrade can comprise an addition of a remote radio unit device toservice a portion of the geographic area. The network resource upgradecan comprise the addition of a baseband unit device that communicateswith the remote radio unit device.

In non-limiting embodiments (also referred to as example embodiments),as shown in FIG. 8, a resource upgrade predictor, which can be a systemor a device, (e.g., resource upgrade predictor 505), can comprise aprocessor and a memory that stores executable instructions that, whenexecuted by the processor, facilitate performance of operations 800. Theinstructions can be stored on a machine-readable storage medium.

The operations 800 can comprise, at step 805, receiving, from a firstnetwork node device (e.g., network node 104), traffic informationcomprising a first quantity of transmitted data packets between a userequipment (e.g., UE 102) and the first network node device, wherein thefirst quantity of transmitted packets is reflective of a first demandassociated with the user equipment serviced by the first network nodedevice. The traffic information can also comprise a second quantity ofre-transmitted data packets comprising a re-transmission of at least oneof the transmitted data packets between the user equipment and the firstnetwork node device.

The operations 800, at step 810, can further comprise, based on thetraffic information, obtaining network utilization data (e.g., PRBloading data as used to generate, for example, first curve 410 or secondcurve 420) related to a second network node device having a similarinterference characteristic (e.g., SNR) to that of the first networknode device.

The operations 800, at step 815, can comprise, using the networkutilization data, determining a second demand at which at least adefined value, related to a transmission link capacity associated withtransmissions between the first network node device and the userequipment, is attained. The transmission link capacity is reflective ofthe first quantity of the transmitted data packets between a userequipment and the first network node device. The transmission linkcapacity also reflects the second quantity of the re-transmitted datapackets between the user equipment and the first network node device.

The operations 800, at step 820, can comprise, obtaining, from acomputing device, projected demand data associated with a geographicarea serviced by the first network node device.

The operations 800, at step 825, can comprise, based upon the demand andthe projected demand data, determining a time at which a networkresource upgrade, related to the first network node device, is to beperformed. The network resource upgrade can comprise adding a remoteradio unit device to service a portion of the geographic area. Thenetwork resource upgrade can further comprise adding a baseband unitdevice that communicates with the remote radio unit device.

The operations 800, at step 830, can comprise, transmitting anotification comprising the time. This notification can be an alertdisplayed on, for example, a computer screen, or it can be an electronicmessage, etc.

Each of the methods and operations above (e.g., in FIGS. 6-8) can havesteps, or elements or aspects of each step, which can be interchanged,or compatible, with each other method/operation.

Referring now to FIG. 9, illustrated is a schematic block diagram of auser equipment (e.g., UE 102, etc.) that can be a mobile device (e.g.,handset) 900 capable of connecting to a network in accordance with someembodiments described herein. Although a mobile handset 900 isillustrated herein, it will be understood that the mobile device can beother devices as well, and that the mobile handset 900 is merelyillustrated to provide context for the embodiments of the variousembodiments described herein. The following discussion is intended toprovide a brief, general description of an example of a suitableenvironment in which the various embodiments can be implemented. Whilethe description includes a general context of computer-executableinstructions embodied on a machine-readable storage medium, thoseskilled in the art will recognize that the innovation also can beimplemented in combination with other program modules and/or as acombination of hardware and software.

Generally, applications (e.g., program modules) can include routines,programs, components, data structures, etc., that perform particulartasks or implement particular abstract data types. Moreover, thoseskilled in the art will appreciate that the methods described herein canbe practiced with other system configurations, includingsingle-processor or multiprocessor systems, minicomputers, mainframecomputers, as well as personal computers, hand-held computing devices,microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics, and the like,each of which can be operatively coupled to one or more associateddevices.

A computing device can typically include a variety of machine-readablemedia. Machine-readable media can be any available media that can beaccessed by the computer and includes both volatile and non-volatilemedia, removable and non-removable media. By way of example and notlimitation, computer-readable media can comprise computer storage mediaand communication media. Computer storage media can include volatileand/or non-volatile media, removable and/or non-removable mediaimplemented in any method or technology for storage of information, suchas computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules orother data. Computer storage media can include, but is not limited to,RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD ROM,digital video disk (DVD) or other optical disk storage, magneticcassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magneticstorage devices, or any other medium which can be used to store thedesired information and which can be accessed by the computer.

Communication media typically embodies computer-readable instructions,data structures, program modules or other data in a modulated datasignal such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism, and includesany information delivery media. The term “modulated data signal” means asignal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed insuch a manner as to encode information in the signal. By way of example,and not limitation, communication media includes wired media such as awired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless media such asacoustic, RF, infrared and other wireless media. Combinations of the anyof the above should also be included within the scope ofcomputer-readable media.

The handset 900 includes a processor 902 for controlling and processingall onboard operations and functions. A memory 904 interfaces to theprocessor 902 for storage of data and one or more applications 906(e.g., a video player software, user feedback component software, etc.).Other applications can include voice recognition of predetermined voicecommands that facilitate initiation of the user feedback signals. Theapplications 906 can be stored in the memory 904 and/or in a firmware908, and executed by the processor 902 from either or both the memory904 or/and the firmware 908. The firmware 908 can also store startupcode for execution in initializing the handset 900. A communicationscomponent 910 interfaces to the processor 902 to facilitatewired/wireless communication with external systems, e.g., cellularnetworks, VoIP networks, and so on. Here, the communications component910 can also include a suitable cellular transceiver 911 (e.g., a globalGSM transceiver) and/or an unlicensed transceiver 913 (e.g., Wi-Fi,WiMax) for corresponding signal communications. The handset 900 can be adevice such as a cellular telephone, a PDA with mobile communicationscapabilities, and messaging-centric devices. The communicationscomponent 910 also facilitates communications reception from terrestrialradio networks (e.g., broadcast), digital satellite radio networks, andInternet-based radio services networks.

The handset 900 includes a display 912 for displaying text, images,video, telephony functions (e.g., a Caller ID function), setupfunctions, and for user input. For example, the display 912 can also bereferred to as a “screen” that can accommodate the presentation ofmultimedia content (e.g., music metadata, messages, wallpaper, graphics,etc.). The display 912 can also display videos and can facilitate thegeneration, editing and sharing of video quotes. A serial I/O interface914 is provided in communication with the processor 902 to facilitatewired and/or wireless serial communications (e.g., USB, and/or IEEE1394) through a hardwire connection, and other serial input devices(e.g., a keyboard, keypad, and mouse). This supports updating andtroubleshooting the handset 900, for example. Audio capabilities areprovided with an audio I/O component 916, which can include a speakerfor the output of audio signals related to, for example, indication thatthe user pressed the proper key or key combination to initiate the userfeedback signal. The audio I/O component 916 also facilitates the inputof audio signals through a microphone to record data and/or telephonyvoice data, and for inputting voice signals for telephone conversations.

The handset 900 can include a slot interface 918 for accommodating a SIC(Subscriber Identity Component) in the form factor of a card SubscriberIdentity Module (SIM) or universal SIM 920, and interfacing the SIM card920 with the processor 902. However, it is to be appreciated that theSIM card 920 can be manufactured into the handset 900, and updated bydownloading data and software.

The handset 900 can process IP data traffic through the communicationscomponent 910 to accommodate IP traffic from an IP network such as, forexample, the Internet, a corporate intranet, a home network, a personarea network, etc., through an ISP or broadband cable provider. Thus,VoIP traffic can be utilized by the handset 900 and IP-based multimediacontent can be received in either an encoded or decoded format.

A video processing component 922 (e.g., a camera) can be provided fordecoding encoded multimedia content. The video processing component 922can aid in facilitating the generation, editing and sharing of videoquotes. The handset 900 also includes a power source 924 in the form ofbatteries and/or an AC power subsystem, which power source 924 caninterface to an external power system or charging equipment (not shown)by a power I/O component 926.

The handset 900 can also include a video component 930 for processingvideo content received and, for recording and transmitting videocontent. For example, the video component 930 can facilitate thegeneration, editing and sharing of video quotes. A location trackingcomponent 932 facilitates geographically locating the handset 900. Asdescribed hereinabove, this can occur when the user initiates thefeedback signal automatically or manually. A user input component 934facilitates the user initiating the quality feedback signal. The userinput component 934 can also facilitate the generation, editing andsharing of video quotes. The user input component 934 can include suchconventional input device technologies such as a keypad, keyboard,mouse, stylus pen, and/or touch screen, for example.

Referring again to the applications 906, a hysteresis component 936facilitates the analysis and processing of hysteresis data, which isutilized to determine when to associate with the access point. Asoftware trigger component 938 can be provided that facilitatestriggering of the hysteresis component 938 when the Wi-Fi transceiver913 detects the beacon of the access point. A SIP client 940 enables thehandset 900 to support SIP protocols and register the subscriber withthe SIP registrar server. The applications 906 can also include a client942 that provides at least the capability of discovery, play and storeof multimedia content, for example, music.

The handset 900, as indicated above related to the communicationscomponent 910, includes an indoor network radio transceiver 913 (e.g.,Wi-Fi transceiver 913). This function supports the indoor radio link,such as IEEE 802.11, for the handset 900. The handset 900 canaccommodate at least satellite radio services through a handset that cancombine wireless voice and digital radio chipsets into a single handhelddevice.

Referring now to FIG. 10, there is illustrated a block diagram of acomputer 1000 operable to execute the functions and operations performedin the described example embodiments. For example, a resource upgradepredictor device (e.g., resource upgrade predictor 505) may containcomponents as described in FIG. 10. The computer 1000 can providenetworking and communication capabilities between a wired or wirelesscommunication network and a server and/or communication device. In orderto provide additional context for various aspects thereof, FIG. 10 andthe following discussion are intended to provide a brief, generaldescription of a suitable computing environment in which the variousaspects of the innovation can be implemented to facilitate theestablishment of a transaction between an entity and a third party.While the description above is in the general context ofcomputer-executable instructions that can run on one or more computers,those skilled in the art will recognize that the innovation also can beimplemented in combination with other program modules and/or as acombination of hardware and software.

Generally, program modules include routines, programs, components, datastructures, etc., that perform particular tasks or implement particularabstract data types. Moreover, those skilled in the art will appreciatethat the various methods can be practiced with other computer systemconfigurations, including single-processor or multiprocessor computersystems, minicomputers, mainframe computers, as well as personalcomputers, hand-held computing devices, microprocessor-based orprogrammable consumer electronics, and the like, each of which can beoperatively coupled to one or more associated devices.

The illustrated aspects of the innovation can also be practiced indistributed computing environments where certain tasks are performed byremote processing devices that are linked through a communicationsnetwork. In a distributed computing environment, program modules can belocated in both local and remote memory storage devices.

Computing devices typically include a variety of media, which caninclude computer-readable storage media or communications media, whichtwo terms are used herein differently from one another as follows.

Computer-readable storage media can be any available storage media thatcan be accessed by the computer and includes both volatile andnonvolatile media, removable and non-removable media. By way of example,and not limitation, computer-readable storage media can be implementedin connection with any method or technology for storage of informationsuch as computer-readable instructions, program modules, structureddata, or unstructured data. Computer-readable storage media can include,but are not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memorytechnology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disk (DVD) or other optical diskstorage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage orother magnetic storage devices, or other tangible and/or non-transitorymedia which can be used to store desired information. Computer-readablestorage media can be accessed by one or more local or remote computingdevices, e.g., via access requests, queries or other data retrievalprotocols, for a variety of operations with respect to the informationstored by the medium.

Communications media can embody computer-readable instructions, datastructures, program modules or other structured or unstructured data ina data signal such as a modulated data signal, e.g., a carrier wave orother transport mechanism, and includes any information delivery ortransport media. The term “modulated data signal” or signals refers to asignal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed insuch a manner as to encode information in one or more signals. By way ofexample, and not limitation, communication media include wired media,such as a wired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless mediasuch as acoustic, RF, infrared and other wireless media.

With reference to FIG. 10, implementing various aspects described hereinwith regards to devices (e.g., resource upgrade predictor, network nodes104, etc.) can include a computer 1000, the computer 1000 including aprocessing unit 1004, a system memory 1006 and a system bus 1008. Thesystem bus 1008 couples system components including, but not limited to,the system memory 1006 to the processing unit 1004. The processing unit1004 can be any of various commercially available processors. Dualmicroprocessors and other multi-processor architectures can also beemployed as the processing unit 1004.

The system bus 1008 can be any of several types of bus structure thatcan further interconnect to a memory bus (with or without a memorycontroller), a peripheral bus, and a local bus using any of a variety ofcommercially available bus architectures. The system memory 1006includes read-only memory (ROM) 1027 and random access memory (RAM)1012. A basic input/output system (BIOS) is stored in a non-volatilememory 1027 such as ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, which BIOS contains the basicroutines that help to transfer information between elements within thecomputer 1000, such as during start-up. The RAM 1012 can also include ahigh-speed RAM such as static RAM for caching data.

The computer 1000 further includes an internal hard disk drive (HDD)1014 (e.g., EIDE, SATA), which internal hard disk drive 1014 can also beconfigured for external use in a suitable chassis (not shown), amagnetic floppy disk drive (FDD) 1016, (e.g., to read from or write to aremovable diskette 1018) and an optical disk drive 1020, (e.g., readinga CD-ROM disk 1022 or, to read from or write to other high capacityoptical media such as the DVD). The hard disk drive 1014, magnetic diskdrive 1016 and optical disk drive 1020 can be connected to the systembus 1008 by a hard disk drive interface 1024, a magnetic disk driveinterface 1026 and an optical drive interface 1028, respectively. Theinterface 1024 for external drive implementations includes at least oneor both of Universal Serial Bus (USB) and IEEE 1294 interfacetechnologies. Other external drive connection technologies are withincontemplation of the subject innovation.

The drives and their associated computer-readable media providenonvolatile storage of data, data structures, computer-executableinstructions, and so forth. For the computer 1000 the drives and mediaaccommodate the storage of any data in a suitable digital format.Although the description of computer-readable media above refers to aHDD, a removable magnetic diskette, and a removable optical media suchas a CD or DVD, it should be appreciated by those skilled in the artthat other types of media which are readable by a computer 1000, such aszip drives, magnetic cassettes, flash memory cards, cartridges, and thelike, can also be used in the example operating environment, andfurther, that any such media can contain computer-executableinstructions for performing the methods of the disclosed innovation.

A number of program modules can be stored in the drives and RAM 1012,including an operating system 1030, one or more application programs1032, other program modules 1034 and program data 1036. All or portionsof the operating system, applications, modules, and/or data can also becached in the RAM 1012. It is to be appreciated that the innovation canbe implemented with various commercially available operating systems orcombinations of operating systems.

A user can enter commands and information into the computer 1000 throughone or more wired/wireless input devices, e.g., a keyboard 1038 and apointing device, such as a mouse 1040. Other input devices (not shown)may include a microphone, an IR remote control, a joystick, a game pad,a stylus pen, touch screen, or the like. These and other input devicesare often connected to the processing unit 1004 through an input deviceinterface 1042 that is coupled to the system bus 1008, but can beconnected by other interfaces, such as a parallel port, an IEEE 2394serial port, a game port, a USB port, an IR interface, etc.

A monitor 1044 or other type of display device is also connected to thesystem bus 1008 through an interface, such as a video adapter 1046. Inaddition to the monitor 1044, a computer 1000 typically includes otherperipheral output devices (not shown), such as speakers, printers, etc.

The computer 1000 can operate in a networked environment using logicalconnections by wired and/or wireless communications to one or moreremote computers, such as a remote computer(s) 1048. The remotecomputer(s) 1048 can be a workstation, a server computer, a router, apersonal computer, portable computer, microprocessor-based entertainmentdevice, a peer device or other common network node, and typicallyincludes many or all of the elements described relative to the computer,although, for purposes of brevity, only a memory/storage device 1050 isillustrated. The logical connections depicted include wired/wirelessconnectivity to a local area network (LAN) 1052 and/or larger networks,e.g., a wide area network (WAN) 1054. Such LAN and WAN networkingenvironments are commonplace in offices and companies, and facilitateenterprise-wide computer networks, such as intranets, all of which mayconnect to a global communications network, e.g., the Internet.

When used in a LAN networking environment, the computer 1000 isconnected to the local network 1052 (LAN 1052) through a wired and/orwireless communication network interface or wireless adapter 1056. Thewireless adapter 1056 may facilitate wired or wireless communication tothe LAN 1052, which may also include a wireless access point disposedthereon for communicating with the wireless adapter 1056.

When used in a WAN networking environment, the computer 1000 can includea modem 1058, or is connected to a communications server on the WAN1054, or has other means for establishing communications over the WAN1054, such as by way of the Internet. The modem 1058, which can beinternal or external and a wired or wireless device, is connected to thesystem bus 1008 through the input device interface 1042. In a networkedenvironment, program modules depicted relative to the computer, orportions thereof, can be stored in the remote memory/storage device1050. It will be appreciated that the network connections shown areexemplary and other means of establishing a communications link betweenthe computers can be used.

The computer is operable to communicate with any wireless devices orentities operatively disposed in wireless communication, e.g., aprinter, scanner, desktop and/or portable computer, portable dataassistant, communications satellite, any piece of equipment or locationassociated with a wirelessly detectable tag (e.g., a kiosk, news stand,restroom), and telephone. This includes at least Wi-Fi and Bluetooth™wireless technologies. Thus, the communication can be a predefinedstructure as with a conventional network or simply an ad hoccommunication between at least two devices.

Wi-Fi, or Wireless Fidelity, allows connection to the Internet from acouch at home, a bed in a hotel room, or a conference room at work,without wires. Wi-Fi is a wireless technology similar to that used in acell phone that enables such devices, e.g., computers, to send andreceive data indoors and out; anywhere within the range of a basestation. Wi-Fi networks use radio technologies called IEEE802.11 (a, b,g, n, etc.) to provide secure, reliable, fast wireless connectivity. AWi-Fi network can be used to connect computers to each other, to theInternet, and to wired networks (which use IEEE802.3 or Ethernet). Wi-Finetworks operate in the unlicensed 2.4 and 5 GHz radio bands, at an 11Mbps (802.11b) or 54 Mbps (802.11a) data rate, for example, or withproducts that contain both bands (dual band), so the networks canprovide real-world performance similar to the basic “10 BaseT” wiredEthernet networks used in many offices.

As used in this application, the terms “system,” “component,”“interface,” and the like are generally intended to refer to acomputer-related entity or an entity related to an operational machinewith one or more specific functionalities. The entities disclosed hereincan be either hardware, a combination of hardware and software,software, or software in execution. For example, a component may be, butis not limited to being, a process running on a processor, a processor,an object, an executable, a thread of execution, a program, and/or acomputer. By way of illustration, both an application running on aserver and the server can be a component. One or more components mayreside within a process and/or thread of execution and a component maybe localized on one computer and/or distributed between two or morecomputers. These components also can execute from various computerreadable storage media having various data structures stored thereon.The components may communicate via local and/or remote processes such asin accordance with a signal having one or more data packets (e.g., datafrom one component interacting with another component in a local system,distributed system, and/or across a network such as the Internet withother systems via the signal). As another example, a component can be anapparatus with specific functionality provided by mechanical partsoperated by electric or electronic circuitry that is operated bysoftware or firmware application(s) executed by a processor, wherein theprocessor can be internal or external to the apparatus and executes atleast a part of the software or firmware application. As yet anotherexample, a component can be an apparatus that provides specificfunctionality through electronic components without mechanical parts,the electronic components can comprise a processor therein to executesoftware or firmware that confers at least in part the functionality ofthe electronic components. An interface can comprise input/output (I/O)components as well as associated processor, application, and/or APIcomponents.

Furthermore, the disclosed subject matter may be implemented as amethod, apparatus, or article of manufacture using standard programmingand/or engineering techniques to produce software, firmware, hardware,or any combination thereof to control a computer to implement thedisclosed subject matter. The term “article of manufacture” as usedherein is intended to encompass a computer program accessible from anycomputer-readable device, computer-readable carrier, orcomputer-readable media. For example, computer-readable media caninclude, but are not limited to, a magnetic storage device, e.g., harddisk; floppy disk; magnetic strip(s); an optical disk (e.g., compactdisk (CD), a digital video disc (DVD), a Blu-ray Disc™ (BD)); a smartcard; a flash memory device (e.g., card, stick, key drive); and/or avirtual device that emulates a storage device and/or any of the abovecomputer-readable media.

As it employed in the subject specification, the term “processor” canrefer to substantially any computing processing unit or devicecomprising, but not limited to comprising, single-core processors;single-processors with software multithread execution capability;multi-core processors; multi-core processors with software multithreadexecution capability; multi-core processors with hardware multithreadtechnology; parallel platforms; and parallel platforms with distributedshared memory. Additionally, a processor can refer to an integratedcircuit, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a digitalsignal processor (DSP), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), aprogrammable logic controller (PLC), a complex programmable logic device(CPLD), a discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardwarecomponents, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functionsdescribed herein. Processors can exploit nano-scale architectures suchas, but not limited to, molecular and quantum-dot based transistors,switches and gates, in order to optimize space usage or enhanceperformance of user equipment. A processor also can be implemented as acombination of computing processing units.

In the subject specification, terms such as “store,” “data store,” “datastorage,” “database,” “repository,” “queue”, and substantially any otherinformation storage component relevant to operation and functionality ofa component, refer to “memory components,” or entities embodied in a“memory” or components comprising the memory. It will be appreciatedthat the memory components described herein can be either volatilememory or nonvolatile memory, or can comprise both volatile andnonvolatile memory. In addition, memory components or memory elementscan be removable or stationary. Moreover, memory can be internal orexternal to a device or component, or removable or stationary. Memorycan comprise various types of media that are readable by a computer,such as hard-disc drives, zip drives, magnetic cassettes, flash memorycards or other types of memory cards, cartridges, or the like.

By way of illustration, and not limitation, nonvolatile memory cancomprise read only memory (ROM), programmable ROM (PROM), electricallyprogrammable ROM (EPROM), electrically erasable ROM (EEPROM), or flashmemory. Volatile memory can comprise random access memory (RAM), whichacts as external cache memory. By way of illustration and notlimitation, RAM is available in many forms such as synchronous RAM(SRAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), double data rateSDRAM (DDR SDRAM), enhanced SDRAM (ESDRAM), Synchlink DRAM (SLDRAM), anddirect Rambus RAM (DRRAM). Additionally, the disclosed memory componentsof systems or methods herein are intended to comprise, without beinglimited to comprising, these and any other suitable types of memory.

In particular and in regard to the various functions performed by theabove described components, devices, circuits, systems and the like, theterms (including a reference to a “means”) used to describe suchcomponents are intended to correspond, unless otherwise indicated, toany component which performs the specified function of the describedcomponent (e.g., a functional equivalent), even though not structurallyequivalent to the disclosed structure, which performs the function inthe herein illustrated example aspects of the embodiments. In thisregard, it will also be recognized that the embodiments comprise asystem as well as a computer-readable medium having computer-executableinstructions for performing the acts and/or events of the variousmethods.

Computing devices typically comprise a variety of media, which cancomprise computer-readable storage media and/or communications media,which two terms are used herein differently from one another as follows.Computer-readable storage media can be any available storage media thatcan be accessed by the computer and comprises both volatile andnonvolatile media, removable and non-removable media. By way of example,and not limitation, computer-readable storage media can be implementedin connection with any method or technology for storage of informationsuch as computer-readable instructions, program modules, structureddata, or unstructured data. Computer-readable storage media cancomprise, but are not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory orother memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disk (DVD) or otheroptical disk storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic diskstorage or other magnetic storage devices, or other tangible and/ornon-transitory media which can be used to store desired information.Computer-readable storage media can be accessed by one or more local orremote computing devices, e.g., via access requests, queries or otherdata retrieval protocols, for a variety of operations with respect tothe information stored by the medium.

On the other hand, communications media typically embodycomputer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules orother structured or unstructured data in a data signal such as amodulated data signal, e.g., a carrier wave or other transportmechanism, and comprises any information delivery or transport media.The term “modulated data signal” or signals refers to a signal that hasone or more of its characteristics set or changed in such a manner as toencode information in one or more signals. By way of example, and notlimitation, communications media comprise wired media, such as a wirednetwork or direct-wired connection, and wireless media such as acoustic,RF, infrared and other wireless media

Further, terms like “user equipment,” “user device,” “mobile device,”“mobile,” station,” “access terminal,” “terminal,” “handset,” andsimilar terminology, generally refer to a wireless device utilized by asubscriber or user of a wireless communication network or service toreceive or convey data, control, voice, video, sound, gaming, orsubstantially any data-stream or signaling-stream. The foregoing termsare utilized interchangeably in the subject specification and relateddrawings. Likewise, the terms “access point,” “node B,” “base station,”“evolved Node B,” “cell,” “cell site,” and the like, can be utilizedinterchangeably in the subject application, and refer to a wirelessnetwork component or appliance that serves and receives data, control,voice, video, sound, gaming, or substantially any data-stream orsignaling-stream from a set of subscriber stations. Data and signalingstreams can be packetized or frame-based flows. It is noted that in thesubject specification and drawings, context or explicit distinctionprovides differentiation with respect to access points or base stationsthat serve and receive data from a mobile device in an outdoorenvironment, and access points or base stations that operate in aconfined, primarily indoor environment overlaid in an outdoor coveragearea. Data and signaling streams can be packetized or frame-based flows.

Furthermore, the terms “user,” “subscriber,” “customer,” “consumer,” andthe like are employed interchangeably throughout the subjectspecification, unless context warrants particular distinction(s) amongthe terms. It should be appreciated that such terms can refer to humanentities, associated devices, or automated components supported throughartificial intelligence (e.g., a capacity to make inference based oncomplex mathematical formalisms) which can provide simulated vision,sound recognition and so forth. In addition, the terms “wirelessnetwork” and “network” are used interchangeable in the subjectapplication, when context wherein the term is utilized warrantsdistinction for clarity purposes such distinction is made explicit.

Moreover, the word “exemplary” is used herein to mean serving as anexample, instance, or illustration. Any aspect or design describedherein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred oradvantageous over other aspects or designs. Rather, use of the wordexemplary is intended to present concepts in a concrete fashion. As usedin this application, the term “or” is intended to mean an inclusive “or”rather than an exclusive “or”. That is, unless specified otherwise, orclear from context, “X employs A or B” is intended to mean any of thenatural inclusive permutations. That is, if X employs A; X employs B; orX employs both A and B, then “X employs A or B” is satisfied under anyof the foregoing instances. In addition, the articles “a” and “an” asused in this application and the appended claims should generally beconstrued to mean “one or more” unless specified otherwise or clear fromcontext to be directed to a singular form.

In addition, while a particular feature may have been disclosed withrespect to only one of several implementations, such feature may becombined with one or more other features of the other implementations asmay be desired and advantageous for any given or particular application.Furthermore, to the extent that the terms “includes” and “including” andvariants thereof are used in either the detailed description or theclaims, these terms are intended to be inclusive in a manner similar tothe term “comprising.”

The above descriptions of various embodiments of the subject disclosureand corresponding figures and what is described in the Abstract, aredescribed herein for illustrative purposes, and are not intended to beexhaustive or to limit the disclosed embodiments to the precise formsdisclosed. It is to be understood that one of ordinary skill in the artmay recognize that other embodiments having modifications, permutations,combinations, and additions can be implemented for performing the same,similar, alternative, or substitute functions of the disclosed subjectmatter, and are therefore considered within the scope of thisdisclosure. Therefore, the disclosed subject matter should not belimited to any single embodiment described herein, but rather should beconstrued in breadth and scope in accordance with the claims below.

What is claimed is:
 1. A device, comprising: a processor; and a memorythat stores executable instructions that, when executed by theprocessor, facilitate performance of operations, comprising: receiving,from first network equipment, traffic information reflective of firstdemand data associated with a user equipment serviced by the firstnetwork equipment, based on the traffic information, determining thatthe first network equipment is operating in a period of non-linearsignal degradation, based on the non-linear signal degradation of theperiod in which the first network equipment has been determined tooperating, obtaining projected customer satisfaction data associatedwith a geographic area serviced by the first network equipment, anddetermining, based on the projected customer satisfaction data, a timeat which a network resource upgrade, related to the first networkequipment, is to be performed.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein thedetermining that the first network equipment is operating in the periodof non-linear signal degradation comprises determining a degree ofnon-linear signal degradation associated with the first networkequipment that exceeds a threshold.
 3. The device of claim 2, whereinobtaining the projected customer satisfaction data is based on thedegree of non-linear signal degradation.
 4. The device of claim 3,wherein the operations further comprise, based on the degree ofnon-linear signal degradation, obtaining a projected degree of change inthe customer satisfaction data that comprises an indication of aprojected degree of non-linear change in the customer satisfaction data.5. The device of claim 1, wherein the traffic information comprisestraffic information reflective of a first interference characteristicassociated with the first network equipment.
 6. The device of claim 5,wherein the first interference characteristic comprises a signal tonoise ratio associated with the first network equipment.
 7. The deviceof claim 5, wherein the first interference characteristic comprises afirst quantity of re-transmitted data packets by the first networkequipment.
 8. The device of claim 7, wherein the first quantity ofre-transmitted data packets are re-transmitted due to interference via anetwork radio link between the first network equipment and the userequipment.
 9. The device of claim 8, wherein the first quantity ofre-transmitted data packets is reflective of a second quantity ofphysical resource blocks comprising time intervals in which the firstquantity of re-transmitted data packets are to be transmitted via thenetwork radio link.
 10. The device of claim 7, wherein the firstinterference characteristic comprises a transmission link capacityassociated with transmissions between the first network equipment andthe user equipment.
 11. The device of claim 1, wherein the trafficinformation comprises network utilization data related to the firstnetwork equipment.
 12. A method, comprising: selecting, by first networkequipment comprising a processor, second network equipment having asimilar characteristic to the first network equipment according to acriterion applicable to similarity; facilitating, by the first networkequipment, based on traffic information associated with the firstnetwork equipment, that the second network equipment is operating in aperiod of non-linear signal degradation to a corresponding degree; andfacilitating, by the first network equipment, communicating, to thirdnetwork equipment, the corresponding degree of non-linear signaldegradation for a determination, by the third network equipment, of atime at which a network resource upgrade, related to the second networkequipment, is to be performed.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein thetraffic information comprises traffic information reflective of a signalto noise ratio associated with the first network equipment.
 14. Themethod of claim 12, wherein the traffic information comprises trafficinformation reflective of a quantity of physical resource blockscomprising time intervals in which transmission data is to betransmitted via a radio link.
 15. The method of claim 12, wherein thetraffic information is based on utilization data of the first networkequipment.
 16. A non-transitory machine-readable medium comprisingexecutable instructions that, when executed by a processor of a networkdevice, facilitate performance of operations, comprising: obtainingtraffic information reflective of communication with a user equipmentserviced by the network device; based on the traffic information,determining that the network device is operating in a period ofnon-linear signal degradation; based on the non-linear signaldegradation of the period in which the network devices has beendetermined be operating, obtaining projected customer satisfaction dataassociated with a geographic area serviced by the network device; anddetermining, based on the projected customer satisfaction data, a timeat which a network resource upgrade, related to the network device, isto be performed.
 17. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim16, wherein the determining that the network device is operating in theperiod of the non-linear signal degradation comprises determining adegree of non-linear signal degradation that exceeds a threshold. 18.The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 17, whereinobtaining the projected customer satisfaction data is based on thedegree of non-linear signal degradation.
 19. The non-transitorymachine-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the operations furthercomprise, based on the degree of non-linear signal degradation,obtaining a projected degree of change in the customer satisfaction datathat indicates a projected degree of non-linear change in the customersatisfaction data.
 20. The non-transitory machine-readable medium ofclaim 16, wherein the traffic information comprises traffic informationreflective of a first interference characteristic associated with thefirst network equipment.